The Flu Ends with You
The flu visitation policy that restricted visitors under age 12 was lifted at 6:00 a.m. on Feb. 6, 2013, at Charlotte-area Carolinas HealthCare System hospitals, including:
- Carolinas Medical Center (CMC) and Levine Children's Hospital
- CMC-NorthEast and Jeff Gordon Children's Hospital
- CMC-Mercy
- CMC-Pineville
- CMC-Union
- CMC-University
- CMC-Lincoln
- CMC-Randolph
- Carolinas Rehabilitation
- Carolinas Rehabilitation-Mercy
- Carolinas Rehabilitation-Mount Holly
A significant drop in the number of patients seen with flu-like symptoms prompted the change. During the week of Jan. 21, 2013, 467 patients with flu-like symptoms were seen in Charlotte-area Carolinas HealthCare System emergency departments, compared to 1,556 patients during the week of Dec. 8, 2012.
 Despite the drop in flu cases, hospital officials recommend that visitors not enter the hospital if they are experiencing flu-like symptoms, such as:
- Fever
- Headaches, body aches and pain
- Cough or sore throat
- Stuffy or runny nose
- Chills
- Fatigue
- Nausea, vomiting and/or diarrhea
To reduce the chances of getting or spreading the flu or other illnesses, Carolinas HealthCare System recommends following key prevention steps, including:
- Coughing or sneezing into elbows or tissues
- Staying current on vaccinations
- Frequent hand washing with soap or using alcohol-based hand sanitizer
- Not touching eyes, nose or mouth with hands
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